The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1285691
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 ■ 11 TRACKING THE PACK How different was it to start playing with American soccer players after growing up in a professional training environ- ment in Germany? "I was lucky to play in an environment in Germany that prepared me very well for what awaited me in college. I think the college game is more focused on athleticism rather than technical skills like in Europe. "In Europe, you play on the ground and create play out of pres- sure. Here, it was a little bit of a different philosophy, but I actually enjoyed it because I think we over-do it in Europe." Do you have any specific individual goals for the upcoming season? "For me, it's always about development. Sure, you want to win, you want shutouts as a goalkeeper, but in the end those are not things you can directly control. Soccer is a very variable game and you can't control everything, so I always focus on how can I grow as a player, how can I grow as a leader and as a person. "Right now, my main focus is on staying healthy, being really diligent with my rehab and injury prevention, so that I can continue to play." You were chosen for the 20-member Search Advisory Com- mittee for the new ACC commissioner selection process. What was your reaction to being included in that and what do you intend to take into that process? "I felt very honored to take on this responsibility, it's a big re- sponsibility. I believe my background on the NC State SAAC, ACC SAAC, Division I SAAC, and being on the Strategic Vision and Planning Committee of the NCAA has prepared me well for the role. "Going into it, my main focus will be to represent the interests of student-athletes. I know that high-level administration has to think about a lot of things and I think our administration is doing a great job. I've just learned from my work with the NCAA that sometimes the perspective of the student-athletes is forgotten, and that's what I intend to stand up for." — Justin H. Williams 1. Last concert you went to? "Metallica." 2. Favorite movie? "'The Wolf of Wall Street.'" 3. Favorite show to watch on Netflix? "'House of Cards.'" 4. Favorite book? "Nummer Eins [Number One] by Oliver Kahn." 5. Favorite sport to watch? "American football." 6. Favorite team in the NFL? "Seattle Seahawks. The first game I watched was their Super Bowl against Denver in 2014, and of course they have Russell Wilson as a former NC State grad." 7. Goalkeeper you look up to? "[German goalkeeper] Oliver Kahn." 8. Favorite class so far at NC State? "Business Valuation. We learned how to evaluate businesses in numeric terms, and that was super interesting to me." 9. What's your favorite restaurant around campus? "Sushi Nine." 10. What was the favorite game from your career? "The 1-0 home win over top-ranked UNC in 2018. We beat them again last year, and we're looking to make that more common." Ten Questions With Leon Krapf